Wednesday Fulham Stuff - 13/05/20...

[WhiteJC]

Fulham said keen on Spain defender – Liverpool, Spurs, West Ham also linked

According to Spanish publication AS, Fulham are alongside a host of Premier League sides in holding an interest in Real Sociedad centre-back Diego Llorente.

Fulham are no strangers to spending big, having spent a hefty amount in the summer transfer window of 2018 upon their promotion to the Premier League. The likes of Ivan Cavaliero and Bobby Reid also joined this season for decent-sized fees.

And now, the Cottagers have been linked with another player who has the potential to command a hefty fee.

Fulham are among the sides to have been said keen on Real Sociedad's Spanish international centre-back Diego Llorente. Scott Parker's side are alongside some big spenders in holding interest in Llorente, with Liverpool, Spurs and West Ham and French side Monaco also linked with the defender.

The report from Spanish news outlet AS claims that Llorente's deal with Real Sociedad includes a massive €50 million release clause.

Llorente almost left the club in January to join Monaco but a deal could not be completed in time. He has been with Sociedad since July 2017, joining from Real Madrid where he had made his breakthrough into senior football. In his time with the club, Llorente, 26, has played in 77 games across all competitions, scoring seven goals and laying on two assists in the process.

The centre-back has also represented the Spanish national team on five occasions, making his debut back in May 2016.

When considering Llorente's huge release clause, the link with Fulham is a surprising one. Even though Fulham are one of the Championship's better off sides, it would be a shock to see them spend this much money on an individual player – especially considering the financial implications the suspension of the season will have on clubs up and down the country.

If Fulham were to make a move to try and bring Llorente in this summer, it would likely have to be for a much smaller fee than his reported €50 million release clause.



https://the72.co.uk/164905/fulham-said-keen-on-spain-defender-liverpool-spurs-west-ham-also-linked/

[WhiteJC]

Fulham, Nott'm Forest, Brentford & Preston offered play-off hope

Fulham, Nottingham Forest, Brentford and Preston North End could yet compete in the Championship's play-offs this season, despite the fact the season is in serious doubt.

A ball hasn't been kicked in the Championship since the first weekend of March, with public safety taking ultimate priority right across the world of football.

Currently, Leeds United and West Brom sit comfortably in the automatic promotion spots, but Fulham, Nottingham Forest, Brentford and Preston were in the play-offs, with the hope of securing promotion.

Now, a report in The Sun has emerged stating that whilst the Championship want to stage games at home venues, there's a chance play-off semi-finals could be played over one-leg.

The stadiums of MK Dons and Bolton Wanderers have seemingly been earmarked as venues these games could play, with the governing bodies looking for somewhere safe to play the lucrative fixtures.

Last season's Championship play-offs saw Leeds United, West Brom, Aston Villa and Derby County compete for a place in the Premier League, with Villa and Derby the clubs to reach Wembley.

There, Villa progressed into the Premier League thanks to a 2-1 victory.

The Verdict

The play-offs are one of the Championship's unique pulling points, so you can understand why the governing bodies want to get them played.

Say Leeds and West Brom are sent off to the Premier League on sporting merit, Fulham, Nottingham Forest, Brentford and Preston would be seething if they were denied the chance to play for a place in the top-flight.

This idea gives them a chance to do that.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/fulham-nottm-forest-brentford-preston-offered-play-off-hope/

[WhiteJC]

'Absolutely not' – Plenty of Fulham fans weigh in on Kevin McDonald debate

Scott Parker will be looking to reshape his Fulham squad this summer as the Cottagers look to put an end to what has been a positive season thus far.

The London club's aim would have been to bounce back with promotion to the Premier League at the first time of asking this season, and they have a good chance of doing so.

They may be six points off second place, but with nine games of the season remaining, a top-six finish looks likely for the Cottagers.

One player who has struggled for game time this season, though, is Kevin McDonald, who played an influential role in their last promotion-winning season.

The Scot has made only 14 appearances in the Championship this season, with the likes of Tom Cairney, Harrison Reed and Harry Arter ahead of him in the pecking order.

With one year left on his deal at Craven Cottage, some Fulham fans on Twitter have been debating whether it would be best to sell him this summer, rather than potentially lose him on a free transfer next year.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/absolutely-not-plenty-of-fulham-fans-weigh-in-on-kevin-mcdonald-debate/

[WhiteJC]

'Little, rubbish Fulham' beat the holders, then the favourites and even the volcanic ash cloud (before a motorway kickabout in a traffic jam) during their mammoth 19-GAME adventure to the Europa League final 10 years ago

    Fulham were an unknown entity as they entered Europa League qualifying
    But the Cottagers defied expectations in a memorable run 10 years ago
    Roy Hodgson's side beat holders Shakhtar Donetsk and the mighty Juventus
    But the fairytale journey ended in heartbreak at the hands of Atletico Madrid
    Sportsmail talks to players, staff and supporters about the historic campaign

A football club morphed by their west London superiors, Fulham fought against every expectation on a magical Thursday-night adventure a decade ago.

In the 2009-10 season, Fulham's extraordinary run to the Europa League final is best remembered for the stunning comeback victory against Juventus, sealed with a Clint Dempsey masterstroke. Or stroke of luck - you decide.

But this was actually a voyage which started with the club's great escape from Premier League relegation in 2008, and a seventh-place finish the following season which was miraculous in itself, triggering a European roadshow which started in the pits of pre-season in Lithuania.


Fulham avoided relegation in the 07-08 Premier League season after Danny Murphy's winner


Roy Hodgson, who joined the club in 2007, then guided Fulham to European qualification

Every obstacle, from the third qualifying round to 10 months down the road in the final against Atletico Madrid, was met by the same white wall of experienced resilience sprinkled with flair and panache. An ageing team, with a wily, continentally experienced coach, flourishing in the club's finest hour.

As talk of an unnecessary distraction slowly moulded into the most dramatic and defiant campaign in the club's history, priorities within the dressing room altered and eyeballs glanced towards the Cottage by the Thames in the expectation, believe it or not, of the unthinkable. 

This is the story of that season, from the backroom staff who made it happen, to the players who conjured it and the supporters of 'little, rubbish Fulham' - as season-ticket holder Gerry Pimm labelled his own club - who knew they would never see anything like it ever again.

It's July 2009 and fresh from a fruitful top-half campaign, Roy Hodgson has a problem.

For the elite, qualification for Europe is paramount but for those clubs with more modest expectations, it's difficult to know whether to view cup competitions as a distraction or an opportunity. Prioritise or compromise?

Amid a pre-season which included a tour to Australia, a Europa League third qualifying round tie against FK Vetra of Lithuania loomed.

'Truthfully, the very first thought when we realised we'd be starting our season on July 30 in Lithuania was that the Europa League might be a hindrance to our season,' captain Danny Murphy tells Sportsmail.

'But we quickly changed the mindset. We tried to view it as an alternative to the usual pre-season games, a more competitive way to get up to speed.

'We named a strong team for that first game, won 3-0, and after that we were up and running. A lot of the lads hadn't sampled European games, neither had the Fulham fans, so it became something that didn't take long to embrace after the very initial doubts.'


Star striker Bobby Zamora started and scored in the first-leg against FK Vetra in Lithuania

Despite the early start, stalwarts Mark Schwarzer, Brede Hangeland, Clint Dempsey, Bobby Zamora and the 32-year-old skipper himself all started that opening game in Vilnius, running out comfortable winners.

'To say we went into the competition all guns blazing would be wrong,' Hodgson's assistant manager Ray Lewington says.

'We had to compromise. Six regular starters with five squad players – that's how we juggled it for the early rounds and group stage.'

Momentum in the competition certainly built very quickly from the 10,000 empty seats for the home leg versus Vetra. After navigating through qualifying, despite a 1-0 defeat away to unknown Russian side Amkar Perm, the Cottagers were dealt their first tricky hand in the group stage.


Fulham overcame Russian side Amkar Perm in late August to qualify for the group-stages

The lowest seed in Pot 3, Hodgson's side drew Roma, Basle and CSKA Sofia: the highest seeds in the other three pots.

And by November, with five points and a solitary – though impressive – home win against Basle recorded after four games, their hopes looked slim even after they took it to the final matchday, which was the return game against Basle in mid-December.

The Swiss side had experienced strike duo Marco Streller and Alexander Frei to call upon, and an emerging talent called Xherdan Shaqiri on the bench.

Zamora, at this point in the middle of the most deadly season of his career, scored a double and a Zoltan Gera strike made sure of three points and safe passage to the last 32. As Murphy describes, this was an 'amazing victory' for the club already.


The two goalscorers celebrate after Fulham beat Basle to reach the knockout-stages

Season-ticket holder Farrell Monk, who also is a presenter on the Fulhamish podcast, paid homage to Hodgson for his excellent man-management.

'We not only won but created quite a few chances. It was an exceptional performance,' Monk says, looking back to that time with fondness.

'We didn't even play every first-choice player - it showed the management of Roy that he was able to call upon players like Stephen Kelly and Bjorn Helge Riise, go to a team who were Champions League regulars and beat them.'

Fulham had surpassed expectations: in the knockout stages come the New Year. However, perhaps due a kind draw, Hodgson and Co got the opposite, and a tie against one of Europe's most exciting outfits.


Ask Fulham regulars about that run 10 years ago and most will say Shakhtar Donetsk was the best team they faced.

This was a Ukrainian outfit with a Brazilian core. Fernandinho, Willian, Douglas Costa – world-class players finding their feet in Europe, who are all flourishing at the highest level in the present day. They also had the rampant Luiz Adriano as their focal point up top.
Defensive midfielder Fernandinho is now a key figure in Pep Guardiola's Manchester City

   
Both Fernandinho and Willian were emerging as star players at Shakhtar Donetsk in 2009

In fact, for Pimm, who is the General Secretary of the Fulham Supporters' Trust, they were the best he'd ever seen.

'Most Fulham fans would say that's the best team we've ever seen down at Fulham Football Club,' Pimm admits.

'They were like Brazil. It was just incredible that we kept them from being four goals up the first half, I'll never know how we did that.'

Lewington, who had previously played for and managed Fulham, staunchly agrees: 'Certainly the best side we played in the competition. Of any side I've ever been involved with, we took the biggest slaughtering in the first 20 minutes that I can ever remember.

'They were a magnificent side, honestly, one of the best club sides I've seen.'


Ray Lewington was Hodgson's trusted right-hand man for the duration of the campaign


Zamora battles in the first leg at the Cottage, with his second-half winner the critical moment

But a characteristic – or the characteristic – of Fulham's entire campaign, resilience was palpably rewarded. Staving off a thrashing soon turned into a 2-1 victory to take over to the Donbass Arena, with an imperious Zamora netting another priceless winner.

Still at long odds to go through, the Lilywhites took advantage of a surprisingly defunct Shakhtar (evidently still leggy off the back of a winter break) performance in the second-leg one week later.

Brede Hangeland notched a vital away goal and in digging out a 1-1 draw, Fulham had knocked out the holders full of soon-to-be household names.

'It was the result of our tournament,' Lewington says, without hesitation. 'We had some good other results but for me, that was the pinnacle because Shakhtar were magnificent.'


So if not the competition holders, how about the competition favourites?

Though not at the peak of their powers, next up was Juventus. One of the most successful clubs in Europe. Even if it was to prove the end of the road, for Fulham supporters, it was simply the stuff of dreams.

'It was just a joy to go and watch Fulham play this great Italian club', says Pimm. 'We knew it was the end of the line, but that'll do us nicely.'

But even after a 3-1 defeat in Turin, and even after David Trezeguet had cancelled out Fulham's away goal inside two minutes at Craven Cottage, the atmosphere on this famous night did not subdue.


Fulham chairman Mohamed al-Fayed ahead of the historic second-leg against Juventus

That, alongside a controversial red card given to World Cup-winning captain Fabio Cannavaro in the first half, with the score level at one apiece, proved the turning point.

'I think there was a belief,' Lewington says. 'We know we had a massive bit of luck when Cannavaro got sent off, he was their key player. From that moment, we really did think the impossible was on.

'The crowd were magnificent because Fulham's not really a place where there's loads of noise all the time. But on this occasion, everyone got caught in the wave of emotion that the game was producing - we all know only football can do it.'


Juve captain Fabio Cannavaro hauls down Zoltan Gera, resulting in the Italian's sending-off

Juventus midfielder Mohamed Sissoko, formerly of Liverpool, was also aware of the atmosphere and momentum building against the Italian giants.

'I know English supporters: they are phenomenal,' Sissoko tells Sportsmail.

'I remember the whole stadium and the players who played as if it were a final. I was surprised by the desire and intensity of Fulham, a team of runners who fought for every ball, and they ended up playing a perfect game.'

Yet with the tie heading to extra-time after a Zoltan Gera brace, the standout moment of the whole season belonged to Dempsey.


Juventus midfielder Mohamed Sissoko admits he was surprised with Fulham's intensity


Zoltan Gera celebrates his penalty which brought the aggregate scores level on the night


Clint Dempsey's chipped winner will go down as a monumental moment in Fulham's history

Starting the night as a substitute, he ended it as a Fulham folk hero, dinking stranded Juve keeper Antonio Chimenti with an imputent right-foot chip into the far corner. To this day, there is still debate as to whether he meant it or not.

'I have watched it countless times, and I to and fro depending on what hour of the day it is,' says Monk, who was positioned right behind Dempsey in the Johnny Haynes stand.

'It was the most wonderful piece of individual skill!' confirms Lewington. 'It was a fairytale finish and the best game I've ever been involved in.


Fulham celebrate at full-time after progressing to the quarter-finals of the competition

'In the dressing room afterwards, it was obviously elation, but everyone was mentally exhausted from it. They all sat down and said "Bloody hell" - it was fabulous.'

So scarred from the night's proceedings, Juve's Sissoko admits he couldn't bring himself to watch the Italian side's conquerors for the competition's remainder.

For Fulham though, it was arguably the greatest night in the club's history and perhaps the moment when all involved began to believe no end was in sight. Roll on the quarter-finals.   


Two steps, two German opponents. First up, Wolfsburg, the Bundesliga champions at this point.

In this tie, Fulham oozed professionalism, as they followed up a 2-1 victory at the Cottage with a clean sheet on the road, and a 1-0 win to assure their safe passage. Zamora, again, notching the crucial goal.

Though the storyline gods had already played their part, in the final four Fulham's opposition were the actual hosts of the final of the Europa League's inaugural edition: Hamburg, with the May showpiece set to be played in the Volksparkstadion.

What is most memorable from this tie, to players and management, is the unusual pre-match buildup to the first leg.

The trip to northern Germany was hindered by the Icelandic volcanic ash cloud which wreaked havoc with travel plans across Europe in April 2010.


Preparation for the first leg against Ruud van Nistelrooy's Hamburg was out of the ordinary

'We had to drive all the way,' remembers Murphy. 'I remember hitting a traffic jam en-route the day before, so well all got out and had a kickabout.'

'We didn't get to the hotel for four hours after we were supposed to, it was a crazy lead-up,' Lewington adds. 

An unordinary build-up had scant affect on the visitors though. A highly respectable goalless draw to take back to their Thursday night fortress.


Murphy and his team applaud the away fans after a respectable goalless draw in Germany

And so from a campaign with nothing to lose, to just about everything to lose. Because a shot at a major European final comes about once-in-a-generation for club the size of Fulham.

On the night, after an early away goal from Hamburg's Mladen Petric - a stunning free-kick at that - sent pulses raising, Hodgson's heroes once again rallied in the second half. 

A Simon Davies beauty and a 76th-minute Zoltan Gera (who was so important in the knockout-stages after Andy Johnson's season-ending knee injury) winner sent all 23,705 in attendance into absolute ecstasy.


Gera celebrates his winner, sending Fulham through to their first ever major European final

'It was the biggest night in Fulham's history, even bigger than the Juventus game, because it was reaching a European final,' says Murphy.

'When we were losing, the whole stadium rose to sing: "Stand up if you still believe". It still sends shivers.'

Both Pimm and Monk refer to Peter Drury's spine-tingling commentary at the full-time whistle: 'Now you've got to believe it! A night beyond compare! Old Father Thames has never seen the like. Hamburg will host the final... Fulham will play in it!'   

Exhausted players on the pitch hugged, and hugged, and hugged. Hodgson, well on his way to collecting the LMA Manager of the Year award, was given a standing ovation in the press room afterwards. 


Manager and skipper celebrate at full-time after guiding Fulham to the Europa League final

As supporters slowly staggered out of the stadium and into the pubs, they gathered to see who they would play, with Liverpool and Atletico Madrid deadlocked in extra-time.

A Diego Forlan extra-time clincher gave Atletico victory at Anfield. Little did Fulham fans know how history would repeat itself.


On May 12 2010, Fulham competed for the first major trophy in the club's history, against a Spanish juggernaut in Atletico.

Match No 19 in Europe for Fulham that season.

The occasion, as much as the match itself, was an unforgettable experience for the supporters lucky enough to seal a ticket for the final.

'We got home from the Hamburg game and the ticket information was already up on the website,' Monk explains.

'And I remember the shock of it being four tickets per season ticket holder.

'Incredible at the time because the stadium only held 50,000 and Fulham were only getting 19,000 fans. I remember saying "this is going to cause problems."

'Flights were so expensive so me and my family convoyed it in two cars, about 13 hours - it wasn't the most pleasant of journeys.

'But it was very special. You could sense that Fulham fans were there to enjoy the experience and the day regardless of what happened, and every single Atletico Madrid fan felt exactly the same way. It was probably the friendliest final ever.'


Nearly 20,000 Fulham fans packed out the Volksparkstadion for the Europa League final


Fulham and Atletico Madrid supporters mingle ahead of kick-off in Hamburg

Come kick-off, Fulham were running on empty. Star man Zamora was nursing an injury, and hobbled his way to the 54-minute mark before being substituted for Dempsey. By this point, Davies' near-post volley had cancelled out Forlan's opener.

As the game progressed beyond 90 minutes, confidence grew in the Fulham camp - if they could hold on to penalties.

'We kept it alive until the final minutes of extra-time and we fancied our chances on penalties even though they had David de Gea in goal, because we had Mark Schwarzer,' says Murphy.


Murphy battles with Atletico's Simao during a tense final which went the full 120 minutes

But Forlan, in the form of his life and who would later that summer win the Golden Ball at the World Cup, poked home Sergio Aguero's cross to crush the ultimate dream. A sucker-punch, to conclude a memorable fight.

'To concede so late was absolutely sickening. I couldn't even bring myself to watch Atletico lift the trophy,' Murphy says.

'As captain, that could have been me, and it would have been such a massive thing for Fulham in the history books. I can look back at the Europa League run with a huge amount of pride and pleasure, but there is still that little bit missing at the end.


Diego Forlan celebrates after his extra-time winner seals the cup for the Spanish side


Fulham captain Murphy walks agonisingly past the trophy after losing the final in May 2010

'I was lucky enough to win big trophies for Liverpool, play for England and helped Fulham stay in the Premier League. To have won the Europa League with Fulham would have equalled anything I did in the game but losing the final still hurts, it means I can't enjoy the run as much.'

Lewington, who is still by Hodgson's side at Crystal Palace, prefers to reflect on the enormous highs rather than the final, solitary low.

'It's easily the highlight of my career. We were actually getting our penalty-takers in order on the side when they scored the winner.

'I'm immensely proud of being part of that, and everyone was – Roy, Mick Kelly, it was way above what people thought would happen, and for players, the confidence grew as you beat those teams. That's how it was that year, it was great.'   


Hodgson and his players wait to receive their runners-up medals after the final in Germany

Currently residing in the Championship play-off spots before the coronavirus pandemic struck, after a decade of relegation, promotion and relegation again, both Pimm and Monk admit they thought in Hamburg: 'It doesn't get better than this as a Fulham fan.'

They're probably right. That summer, Hodgson left for Liverpool and the core of the squad gradually broke up despite another Europa League campaign in 2011-12, which this time saw the Whites fall in the group-stages. 

But for now, when the world is missing football and the bamboozling drama that comes with it, remember the season 'little, rubbish Fulham' ridded themselves of their own ridicule.



https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-8309307/The-story-Fulhams-magical-journey-Europa-League-final-ten-years-ago.html

[WhiteJC]

Memories: The Europa League Final

Ten years on from that day in Hamburg, Jack Collins looks back at the heartwrenching end to Fulham's Europa League campaign.

The entire experience is in crystal clarity in my head. I can fast forward and rewind that day like a VHS tape.

Driven on by the idea that the Whites would probably never play in another major European final ever again, my Dad worked his magic. Even days before exams were due to start, he came to an 'agreement' with school to allow me to make the trip to Germany.

With all the flights gone, he somehow managed to procure a bus for Tom and I, for our uncles and a couple of their friends. They loaded the bus up with crates, picked us up from school on the Tuesday afternoon and we gunned through the night getting stuck into those crates at the back of the bus.

Slightly too young to be properly involved, but old enough to justify snagging a few ciders, I was in my element. "We're the oldest team in London and we're going to Germany!" Across the water, through Luxembourg, into Germany, and as the sun peeked over the horizon and we stirred in the seats, Hamburg loomed ahead of us.

We probably got into the city about midday, and the Reeperbahn was absolutely slammed with Fulham fans. The entire place was black and white, flags around the statues, songs raining down like arrows as they bounced back and forth across the square. An explosion of West London in a corner of North Germany. It was magic. It was chaos. It took forever to get a beer.

The journey to the ground was good too, a mingle of Atléti joining the party, as songs carried through the train. A local geezer with a HSV tattoo, almost certainly still bitter from the semi-final loss, tried to start a fight. He was laughed back into his chair by both sets of fans. I distinctly remember starting a chant of "Super Geoffrey Horsfield" as we came out of the station, and having my hair ruffled by a load of fellas who thought that was hilarious.

When we were finally there, the stadium was a sea: a wave of red and white crashing against a wave of black and white.

Before the game started they sang Atleti's club hymn. It was beautiful. And then, our turn: 'I Gotta Feeling' by the Black Eyed Peas. Surreal. Why they didn't use 'Can't Take My Eyes Off You' I will absolutely never know.

When you look at that Atléti team now, you'd think this should have been a landslide. Agüero. Forlan. De Gea. Reyes. Garcia. Assunçao. Simão. But, as you know, it wasn't. It was a pitch battle between a team of stars and an absolutely machine-drilled Fulham unit.

What if Simon Davies had taken a touch before hitting it straight at De Gea? What if Zamora hadn't been injured? What if the linesman had seen that Forlan was offside for the winner? We'll never know.

I remember standing with tears in my eyes by the side of the motorway as we waited for someone to collect the bus. The official Fulham fan bus drove past. We waved them off. Then the players' coach came past. We waved them off too. It felt like we were the last people in Hamburg, although looking back, the majority of people must have stayed the night.

We got on the bus and it was silent. Each to their own heartbreak. The crates lay unbroken on the way home. It was as close as we had come, and perhaps as close as we will ever come, to seeing Fulham win any sort of major silverware. The pain remains, but the pride too.

"We're the oldest club in London and we went to Germany."



https://www.fulhamish.co.uk/post/2020-05-12-memories-the-europa-league-final/

[WhiteJC]

'Overhyped,' 'Misused' – Many Fulham fans issue one-word verdicts on 2018 signing

Fulham fans have taken to Twitter to debate the merits – or otherwise – of midfielder Jean Michael Seri as we wait for the season to resume.

Fulham are hoping to get back into the Premier League at first asking but are six points off of the top two and are at the mercy of the season getting back up and running in terms of making the automatic spots.

Indeed, if they go up, they'll be hoping to make a better fist of things in terms of recruiting players with Seri part of a good-looking, but ultimately unsuccessful, splurge ahead of their most recent top-flight return.

Currently on loan at Galatasaray, it remains to be seen where his immediate future lies but it seems a fair few Fulham fans are unconvinced by him.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/overhyped-misused-many-fulham-fans-issue-one-word-verdicts-on-2018-signing/

[WhiteJC]

 What next for the Championship, League One and League Two?
Sky Sports explain what could happen next in the Championship, League One and League Two ahead of a few days of crunch talks in the EFL.

The EFL is set for a pivotal few days as they continue discussions on how and when to finish the season.

The EFL board and clubs are set for talks to discuss both financial and competition matters, as the Championship, League One and League Two decide a way forward following the government's latest advice.

Here we explain what could happen next...

What's on the agenda this week?

The EFL board is meeting on Wednesday to discuss potential options being considered, including that to end the current campaign in League One and Two prematurely - and how to do so.

Once the potential options are decided upon, the board will put them to the clubs, with a vote possibly taking place when the EFL meet with clubs from League One and Two on Friday.

Is the season likely to be curtailed?
If a vote does take place, there is likely to be a consensus to end the season in the third and fourth tiers.

It currently remains undecided on how final placings would be determined, but the 'points per game' method and 'promotion on merit' are both being considered by clubs.

Is the Championship at risk?
As it stands the Championship is still intent on completing the season when possible, and their decision will remain linked to what the Premier League decide to do. Leeds and West Brom currently occupy the top two spots and will be keeping a keen eye on proceedings.

How could final standings be decided?
EFL chairman Rick Parry said he still expects three clubs to be promoted from the Championship to the Premier League.

"We expect three Championship clubs to be promoted - the Premier League are aware of our position on that. The Premier League expects three clubs to be relegated," he said.

Whether the same rules will apply to League One and Two remains to be seen.

It remains undecided on how final placings would be determined should that be the decision of the lower two divisions, with 'points per game' and 'promotion on merit' both being considered by clubs.

The points-per-game method would likely be weighted with home and away results rewarded differently, while 'promotion on merit' would see two clubs in League One and three in League Two (those currently in automatic places) get promoted, but no relegation. However, this option is dependant on a solution being agreed with the Championship.

Charlton boss Lee Bowyer, in particular, has been particularly vocal against the use of PPG to determine the outcome of the season.

"It would kill our football club," the boss of the Championship club said. "We would struggle. I don't know the extent but it would be bad. We're not in a great position anyway.

"To be called as it stands today would be scandalous, it would be wrong on every level. For us as a club it wouldn't be acceptable."

What is the financial impact on lower-league clubs?
Gary Neville, the Sky Sports pundit who is also part-owner of League Two club Salford City, warned that the cost of continuing the season would outweigh the benefits for lower-league sides.

"We're talking millions of pounds to invest in what would be health and safety protocols, neutral venues, all the logistics, the hotel costs of keeping club people and players in as safe environments as possible will be huge costs to the Bundesliga and the Premier League. And League One and League Two can't fund that. The clubs won't fund that," he told The Football Show.

"You've obviously got added complexities that 50 per cent of players in League One and League Two are out of contract in two months and ultimately clubs don't want to pay them beyond those contracts so there will be no extensions available.

"I think also there's just a lack of willingness at League One and League Two levels to take the risk and go through all the economic risks. There [will be] no fans in stadiums, you'd have to pay players appearance money and bonus money - and the clubs haven't got the money.

"The only way in which football could happen in League One and League Two is if our friends in the Premier League were able to fund football for League One and League Two but I'm not sure at this moment in time they've got their own ship in order, so they're not going to look after League One and League Two and League Two."

Parry has also warned that clubs face a £200m financial hole by September.

Parry said the aim of the league remained to resume play when it was safe to do so, but he acknowledged playing games behind closed doors could actually be a loss-making venture for some clubs.

"We would like to emerge stronger and leaner, with a proper reset post-COVID. We are heading for a financial hole of £200m by the end of September," Parry said.

"Clubs are stacking up creditors and there are a great deal of uncertainties."

Will Premier League decisions have an impact?
The biggest impact any Premier League decision will have on the EFL is their decision over relegation to the Championship.

As it stands, the Championship is expecting to promote three clubs and have three relegated to them for the start of next season.

Could neutral venues be used in the Championship?
There are 326 games remaining across the EFL, excluding play-offs, and 108 of those are in the Championship.

So the prospect of using neutral grounds would be impractical and would require a huge amount of travelling and organisation.

What do we know about the play-offs?
One issue to be decided is whether it would be fair to promote the team in third place in the Championship and League One, and fourth in League Two, based on current standings, and avoid challenges from clubs that are currently placed in the play-off places.

Whether the play-offs will go ahead at this point in any capacity is unclear at this point and dependent on the outcome of this week's meetings.

However, if the league was to be completed in the normal way, albeit behind close doors, the play-offs would be likely to happen also.

What's the timeframe for a decision?
The League One and League Two decision is expected by the end of this week or, at latest, early next week.

The Championship is more difficult to predict as it will be tied in, inevitably, to what happens in the Premier League.



https://www.skysports.com/football/news/12040/11987198/what-next-for-the-championship-league-one-and-league-two

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Leeds and West Brom 'could be DENIED promotion to the Premier League if Championship season is curtailed as top flight clubs think it would be unfair to send them up based on an unfinished season while they have to see out the entire campaign'

    Leeds and West Brom were clear in the promotion spots before the pandemic
    But clubs are against them being promoted if the Championship is curtailed
    They want relegation and promotion to the Premier League to be treated equally
    The FA will not cancel relegation and are reluctant to null and void the season

Leeds United and West Brom could be denied promotion back to the Premier League if the Championship season cannot be completed, according to The Telegraph.

Leaders Leeds and their Midlands counterparts are seven and six points clear respectively of Fulham and looked destined for promotion before the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic.

But The Telegraph report that top flight clubs believe it would be unfair if relegation was decided accordingly after the Premier League was completed behind closed doors and the Championship was curtailed at the same time. 


Leeds United could be denied a return to the Premier League for the first time since 2004


Top flight clubs don't want promotion for clubs like West Brom handed out like 'golden tickets'

The FA have warned clubs it will not allow relegation to be cancelled and is reticent to declare the whole season null and void.

But clubs' riposte has included arguing that promotion and relegation must therefore be awarded under the same set of circumstances and not be handed out like 'golden tickets'.

The issue was reportedly raised during Monday's Premier League meeting and Championship clubs are aware of the threat ahead of Wednesday's EFL meeting which is likely to discuss in detail the prospect of cutting the season down.


Both clubs would get automatic promotion even if positions were decided on points-per-game

Leeds and West Brom would remain in the automatic promotion spots if final positions were awarded on current places as well as on a points-per-game basis, with 37 games having been played.

At the same point of the season last year, Norwich were leading the way and Leeds second ahead of current Premier League side Sheffield United.

Aston Villa, who went up through the play-offs, were eighth and the team they beat in the final - Derby County - were seventh. 

The news comes on the same day as Gary Neville stating that deciding relegation on points-per-game would be 'unfair' on teams at the bottom of the Premier League table.


At this stage in 2019 Leeds were ahead of Sheffield United, who were promoted (pictured)

Speaking on Sky Sports, Neville said: 'I think that if football was going to be played, it's right for football to be played for promotion and relegation. But I think on the points-per-game basis, to be relegated with nine games to go, with so much to play for, so tight at the bottom and with so much at stake, it doesn't feel right to me personally.

'I do think it's unfair for points per game for relegation. It's important I voice that. It's devastating going down at any time, but without even having the opportunity to defend yourself and play football matches would be too much.'

Neville's comments reflect the huge sticking point that remain in negotiations with clubs on how best to get the action back underway, with some teams near the drop zone wary of agreeing to play out the rest of the campaign in neutral venues amid relegation fears.


Richard Scudamore and the Premier League - pictured, chief executive Richard Masters - are also wary of legal action that could be taken

The Premier League are also aware that they could face legal action from relegated clubs if they go down after finishing the current season and Championship clubs are promoted without completing theirs.

Norwich, Villa and Bournemouth currently occupy the bottom three below Watford, West Ham United and Brighton.

Premier League teams are starting to return to training ahead of a possible restart of the season in June following weeks of coronavirus shutdown, with officials still in talks with the Government about when that can happen.

But the news emanating from the latest meeting suggest that a decision on who plays in which league next season has yet to be decided.


Norwich are currently bottom of the Premier League alongside Aston Villa and Bournemouth



https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-8312341/Leeds-West-Brom-DENIED-Premier-League-promotion-Championship-season-curtailed.html